"Cinderella's ball, huh!" he remarks as we twirl together, me clumsy as ever and he trying his best not to let me fall.

"This place is breathtaking," I throw my head back, looking up at the enormous crystal chandelier as he places a hand beneath my waist, making me lean back.

"Be careful there," he pulls me back up again. "You aren't that flexible and the last thing I want to risk is you getting a disc prolapse."

"I'm tired," I say as we stop the motion, beads of sweat glistening on our foreheads. I flop down on the floor and lay down flat, the cold marble soothing my aching back. He too takes a place beside me as I stare at the ceiling for the first time.

"Are those the zodiacs?" I remark, pointing at gleaming specs of lights dotting the ceiling, each like a small scintillating stars.

"Yes, the twelve of them. It's supposed to bring luck." He mumbles.

"Your life is almost a piece out of a Disney movie. Do you realize how lucky you are?"

"No, I'm not. There is too much family pressure, and some pushing from the society and the known circles and everywhere. The burden is crushing. You've never walked in my shoes." he rolls over to his side, putting his back to me.

"Hey, I didn't mean to," I say, rolling over and placing a hand on his back.

His muscles stiffen beneath the touch, but I don't draw back. I put both my hands and rub soothing circles instead. He lets out a sigh.

"Hey, wanna enjoy some fresh air?" he sits up suddenly.

"Where?" I mouth, as he takes my hands, pulling me up, leading me to a set of curtains. He pulls an ornate rope and I gasp, as they are glass doors, leading to a mesmerizing view of the open balcony. The silent moonlight is filtering into the room, cold and soothing.

He pushes the doors open, dragging me into the night air filled with the smell of damp earth. The breeze weaves through my hair, gently caressing my face as we stand there in silence, looking at acres of dark countryside, dotted with little specs of yellow.

"The farmer's houses," he points towards the lights. "We get fresh produce mostly in here."

"I am speechless," I manage to say, "How do you take in all this view?"

"I didn't enjoy the view as much, the last time I came up here to —" he stops abruptly.

"To?" I insist.

"I mean, you don't need to tell me anything you don't want to tell me." I amend quickly.

"No, it's okay," he squeezes my hand for support. "I came up here, the day Lydia cheated on me. I wanted to jump."

My heart skips a beat as I look down. We're up in the fifth floor and the only thing visible from up here, is the darkness. The cold, bottomless void which can kill any that tumbles over the edge.

"Then? " I whisper, holding his hands tighter.

"I couldn't bring myself to do it. I'm too much of a coward to take the jump. That's why I'm still here, existing, a shell of what I was. I hit my hands against the rails, caused myself physical pain, anything to escape from the mental torture, but I couldn't end it."

The pain in his voice seems to be tugging at a curtain in my mind, the curtain that I had reinforced in place.

Not so long ago, I too had thoughts which I am not fond of. The accident keeps haunting me, over and over again.

"I know how you feel. I've been through it before, believe me." I look into his clear blue eyes, piercing, and liquid. "Jayden died in a car accident. Fate took him, not me and I blamed myself for it. Maybe if I hadn't been there in the car, he would've drove more carefully. He would've still —" I break off as I realize what a burden I've been keeping in my heart. I never told Brendan. Not that he would've understood it. His view on life is way too shallow, too material.

"You can't blame yourself." he says.

"Neither can you. I'm glad you didn't jump. I'm glad I didn't slit my wrists. I would've never met you." I gasp, ssuddenly wondering how much this stranger has come to mean for me.

"Patriesse," his voice wraps around my name, almost in a caress. "I— I'm afraid to lose you." We're in each other's arms, entangled into one body, our foreheads touching. I feel the urge to bridge that little gap in between us.

"Shh—" I say, crashing my lips into his.

I don't know what happens to me, or why I do that, but I don't regret it as he responds with the same fervor and it's like all the sadness, the sense of loss in us, forms a chain, wrapping up around us, melting us to form one single entity. I deepen the kiss, as if my life depends on it and soon we're gasping for breath.

"I need you," he mumbles against my cheek, his breath coming hot on my face. "I don't know why, but I need you. Promise me you won't hurt me, ever."

"I— I—" the trance breaks away suddenly.

What did I do? I kissed him. Okay. It was the heat of the moment and we were both very sad. It was an impulsive act. No big deal. You can confess to Brendan and it'll be okay, Pat.

Or will it be? What will I say to him, if at all I say to him?

"I'm sorry — I can't do it." I stutter, averting his eyes. "I have a boyfriend. I can't cheat on him."

"Hey, look at me," he holds my chin, turning my face up. "You didn't do anything, okay. Let's forget it. It didn't happen."

"Thanks, but I need to go." I open the door, stepping in.

"If you must, then go. I won't hold you back," the pain in his eyes tugs at my heart. Nevertheless I turn back and leave.

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